Berliner Helicopter Weekend
2026-02-21 10:00 - 14:00, 2026-02-22 10:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
Discover the thrill of vertical flight and how it started right here at College Park Airport! Explore the new exhibition, The Berliner Helicopter: America’s Forgotten Helicopter, get hands-on with interactives, and explore the wonders of vertical flight technology.

Saturday, February 21 Schedule of Events:

10:10 am: Helicopter Fly-in10:30-11:30 am: Cub Corner11 am: Helicopter Fly-out11:30 am-12:30 pm: Discovery Cart12:15-1 pm: Living History Program1-2 pm: Discovery Cart

Sunday, February 22 Schedule of Events:

10:30-11:30 am: Cub Corner11:30 am-12:30 pm: Discovery Cart12:30-1:30 pm: Cub Corner1-2 pm: Discovery Cart3-4:30 pm: Runway Rhythms Concert (Separate Registration – Recommended)

Charcuterie Creations
2026-02-21 12:00 - 14:00
Come and join us and create your own charcuterie board. Add fruit, cheese, crackers, and veggies. This will be immersive and hands-on. Guaranteed to unleash the chef in you!

Black History Arts & Crafts
2026-02-21 12:00 - 15:00, 2026-02-28 12:00 - 15:00
Express your inner artist while celebrating Black history and culture! Kids and their parents/guardians are encouraged to join us throughout February for creative arts and crafts activities. Instructors will walk you through the steps of making your own Kente cloth, face masks, or even musical instruments like shekeres. Come feel inspired by this fun and free can’t-miss program!

Cub Corner
2026-02-22 10:30 - 11:30
Celebrate the opening of our new exhibition, “The Berliner Helicopter: America’s Forgotten Helicopter,” with a reading of “Rosie Revere, Engineer,” by Andrea Beaty. After the story, little learners can put their creativity to the test by building and decorating their own flying contraptions—just like Rosie! This program is recommended for children ages 3-6. This program is free. Register in advance to secure your spot! Walk-in spaces will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Register for activity code 20658-115K.

For more information: 301-864-6029

Going the Distance with Smithsonian’s Discovery Theater
2026-02-24 10:00 - 10:45, 2026-02-24 11:15 - 12:00
This performance is part of our Education on Stage Series and is recommended for Grades 1-6. Race to the finish line with two black Olympians who changed history in this original musical play from Discovery Theater! Soaring music and the exhilaration of world-class sports inspire us all to greatness in this vivid portrayal of the lives of Jesse Owens and Wilma Rudolph. Watch them overcome childhood illness, infirmity, and poverty to become the world’s fastest man and fastest woman, winning the greatest honor in athletics: the Olympic Gold medal. The John Cornelius II score speaks to the heart and soul of the winner in all of us. Please note, everyone must have a ticket to enter, regardless of age. Groups of 20+ can call 301-277-1710 for Group Sales or fill out the online request form.

10 am Tickets

11:15 am Tickets

Farm Story & Craft
2026-02-24 11:00 - 12:00
Go green with your creativity! Nature provides an abundance of materials and inspiration for making art. Participants will enjoy hands-on nature craft activities. Discover what you can design with the environment in mind. Join us for a farm-related story and craft, and meet some of our farm animal ambassadors.

Craft Tuesdays: Black Heroines
2026-02-24 15:30 - 16:30
Go green with your creativity! Nature provides an abundance of materials and inspiration for making art. Our artistic naturalists will assist you in transforming your ideas and creativity into an art piece. From mosaics to painting, clay or drawing, your imagination is the limit.

Beyond the Frame: Silhouette Artist Moses Williams
2026-02-25 10:30 - 11:30
Silhouettes were commonly created to remember loved ones when portraits were too pricey for the average person. Kids will learn the history of silhouettes and how an enslaved boy named Moses Williams from Baltimore developed a talent for “shadow art” and went on to purchase his freedom from his enslaver, the renowned artist Charles Vincent Peale. Kids ages six to 14 will get to make and take a silhouette of their likeness. Cost $5 per student; chaperones are free.

Timberdoodle Hike
2026-02-25 18:00 - 19:30
Join a naturalist for a night hike to see the spectacular courtship display of the Timberdoodle, or American Woodcock. This mysterious bird reliably performs a spiraling flight display shortly after sunset. Walk to a pond and try to see beavers, owls, and other nocturnal animals.

Above & Below: Weather & Meteorology
2026-02-26 10:00 - 11:30
What’s up with the weather? Investigate the importance of weather to the survival of life, the water cycle, concepts in meteorology, the difference between weather and climate, and the cause and effect of human behavior on the climate. Use tools, maps, symbols, and math to measure and interpret the weather.

Toddler Time: Life in Ponds Sensory Exploration
2026-02-26 11:00 - 12:00
Give your little one a head start on growing into a knowledgeable adult aware of the importance of the environment. Join us for an exciting time of exploring nature through hands-on activities, stories, songs, crafts, and more. Learn about animals, plants, and habitats. Each class focuses on a different nature theme.

Dr. Seuss' Birthday Celebration
2026-02-27 10:00 - 12:00
Celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday with us with puppet shows, engaging stories, and Seuss-inspired crafts and activities. A perfect morning for preschoolers and their families!

Animal Encounters: Winter Birds
2026-02-28 11:00 - 12:00
You don’t need to be Dr. Dolittle to speak to the animals! Meet the nature center’s live animals, including reptiles, amphibians, and birds of prey. Interacting with animals can boost your mood and promote mental wellness. Learn more about them and their natural habitats. Our animal friends look forward to greeting you.

Classes may be held outdoors.

Osprey Talk
2026-02-28 13:00 - 15:00
Learn from a naturalist about ospreys and the research and conservation efforts happening around the state to help preserve this remarkable species. Check in at the Visitors Center when you arrive at Patuxent River Park.

Farm Science: Cows, Goats, and Sheep
2026-03-05 13:00 - 14:00
Cows, goats, and sheep…oh my! What do these animals have in common? They are ruminants. Learn about these animals’ internal components and observe their interactions through a lab experiment.

Youth Aviators: Pilot Module
2026-03-07 10:00 - 11:30, 2026-03-14 10:00 - 11:30, 2026-03-21 10:00 - 11:30
Take off into the fundamentals of piloting in this session of the Youth Aviators Program. Participants will explore key topics from the Private Pilot FAA Knowledge Exam through interactive lessons, test their knowledge along the way, and connect with experienced pilots. Students will also get hands-on experience using flight simulators. Participants must be able to commit to all four Saturdays of the program.

Women in Aviation Tour
2026-03-07 11:00 - 11:45, 2026-03-08 11:00 - 11:45
Discover the vital role women have played in powered flight, beginning with Katharine Wright in 1903. Explore the groundbreaking achievements of female pilots with ties to College Park Airport, and engage in a conversation about the opportunities and challenges women face in aviation careers. This program is free.

Dinosaur Park Open House
2026-03-07 12:00 - 16:00, 2026-03-21 12:00 - 16:00
Dinosaur Park Open Houses are a free public program on the first and third Saturday of every month and the second Sunday in the summer. No reservations required. Come join us and learn more about fossils, including the dinosaurs who used to call Maryland home. Guests can expect an orientation and then the opportunity to search the surface of the ground for fossils. No prior registration required. ASL interpretation is offered at each event. All park rules apply (listed below).1. Closed toed shoes required2. No pets or tools allowed inside the fossil site3. Guests cannot cross the rope fence4. There is no digging during this program. All fossils are naturally eroding from the ground5. No running in the fossil site6. No throwing rocks or rolling rocks7. All scientifically important fossils will be kept in trust with the commission to be used for current and future research

Homeschool Animal Science: Milk into Curd
2026-03-13 13:00 - 14:00
Learn how milk transforms into curd by exploring the process of curdling, learning what causes the change, and recognizing how this process is used to make different dairy products.

Bilingual Cub Corner
2026-03-21 10:30 - 11:30
Join us for a bilingual (Spanish and English) reading of “Avioncito” by May Clerici. After the story, little learners can fold their own paper planes and test them out on our paper plane launcher! This program is recommended for children ages 3-6. FREE with museum admission. No registration required.

Teen Vocal Showcase
2026-03-21 18:00 - 21:00
Calling all teen vocalists! Register today to audition for the Teen Vocal Showcase 2026. This vocal performance opportunity is for Prince George’s County pre-teens ages 10 to 12 and teens 13-18. Selected participants will have a chance to perform and complete in a showcase at the historic Public Playhouse for prizes ranging from $500 to $1,000!

Audtion Dates:

Audition #1: November 15, 2025, at Suitland High School (5200 Silver Hill Rd., Forestville 20747)

Audition #2: November 22, 2025, at John Addison Concert Hall at Harmony Hall Arts Center (10701 Livingston Rd, Fort Washington, Maryland 20774)

Audition #3: December 13, 2025, at Kentland Community Center (2413 Pinebrook Ave., Landover 20785)

Audition #4: January 3, 2026, at Deerfield Run Community Center (13000 Laurel – Bowie Rd. Laurel, Maryland 20708)

Audition Times:

10 am-3 pm

Five minute slots

Showcase:

Saturday, March 21, 2026, 6 pm–9 pm

Audition Music:

Participants must have music downloaded on an MP4 flash drive or saved on their cell phones. (Please note: Adults will operate cell phones for participants. Cell phones must remain in airplane mode for no interruptions. Secular music is prohibited)

Prize Money

1st Place Winnings $1000

2nd Place Winnings $500

Registration Fee: FREE (must be 18 years old by March 30, 2026, to participate. Attend and show proof of Prince Georges County Public Schools via school ID, school max, etc.)

Teen Vocal Showcase
All participants must provide proof of school by providing school ID and/or License to show proof of age and school attending. All participants must attend Prince Georges County Public Schools/Private Schools.

Name(Required)

First

Last

School Name(Required) Date Of Birth(Required)

MM slash DD slash YYYY

Grade(Required)Please enter a number from 1 to 12.Gender Prefrence(Required) Student Phone Number(Required)Parent Phone Number(Required)Student Email(Required)

Enter Email

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Parent Email(Required)

Enter Email

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Instagram Name Genre Of Music(Required) Who/What Is Your Musical Inspiration(Required) What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up(Required) How Did You Find Out About Us Number

Cub Corner
2026-03-22 10:30 - 11:30
Falling can help us learn to soar! Join us for a special reading of “After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again),” by Dan Santat, the inspiring story of Humpty Dumpty’s journey to overcome his fears. After the story, little learners can fold their own paper planes and test them on our paper plane launcher! This program is recommended for children ages 3-6. FREE with museum admission. No registration required.

Galapagos George with Barefoot Puppets
2026-03-24 10:00 - 12:00
This performance is part of our Tiny Tots Series and is recommended for PreK-Grade 2. Based on the true story of Lonesome George, this uplifting eco-fable tells the tale of a truly one-of-a-kind tortoise from the Galapagos Islands. Watch George, a GIANT tortoise, grow up among sea turtles, lizards, hungry goats, sea lions, and dancing birds with blue feet. As you visit his island, you hear the story of the last tortoise found on Pinta Island in the Galapagos archipelago. Fall in love with these islands – and this not-so-little tortoise – while learning an important lesson about man’s impact on the environment. Please note, everyone must have a ticket to enter, regardless of age. Groups of 20+ can call 301-277-1710 for Group Sales or fill out the online request form.

10 am Tickets

11 am Tickets
